Lots of new activities at Lakeview Summerfest

LAKEVIEW — All the “old favorites” will be returning to this year’s Lakeview Summerfest this Friday and Saturday, along with several new offerings.

The fun actually gets under way Thursday, with town wide garage sales, including the Spectrum Health Kelsey Hospital Guild Garage Sale and the popular Friends of the Library Yard Sale, which includes a used book sale.

The town wide garage sales continue Friday. A “Mom to Mom” sale, originally scheduled for Lakeview Middle School and sponsored by the Parent Teacher Organization there, was cancelled early this week due to a lack of interest.

Not cancelled, however, was another crowd favorite. The fly-in pancake breakfast at Griffith Field Airport — sponsored by Friends of Griffith Field — will be back from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Cost is $6 for adults, $3 for kids and free for those five and under.

The breakfast will include a silent auction in memory of Kyle Boss.

Beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, the Lakeview Jaycees Beer Tent gets rolling, with live music by 4-Play starting at 8 p.m. According to Jaycees member and home brewing enthusiast Chad Lincoln, this year the tent will offer IPA from Perrin Brewing in Comstock Park.

The move to a slightly more “exotic” brew came about after the success of last winter’s Winterfest in Lakeview.

“We went with Perrin’s Strong Pale for Winterfest and sold more of it than Bud(weiser),” Lincoln said. “I think slowly but surely the craft beer movement is creeping this way.

“The music is new this year too, we have the band 4-Play for Friday night. They’ve played a couple (shows) locally at the Lakeview Hotel and McKenna’s for St Patty’s.”

Performing Saturday night at the beer tent is Sweet J Band, formerly known as Sweet Japonic. These Grand Rapids blues-rockers bring a wealth of experience and talent to the beer tent stage.

Also for beer lovers, for the fifth year in a row, the Brewgadgeteers Homebrew Club will set up a beer and wine tasting at the beer tent. Proceeds from the event go toward the Jaycees Fireworks Fund.

“Our club will have seven different kinds of beer on tap and we’re having Heavenly Vineyards from Morley do the wine,” Lincoln said.

Fireworks, slated for Saturday night, are provided again this year by the Jaycees from Melrose Pyrotechnics. According to organizers, this year’s show will be one of the best around.

Earlier in the day Saturday, Lakeview Community Wellness Center again sponsors a 5K Walk/Run. Registration begins at 7 a.m. with the race beginning at 8 a.m.

Also early in the day, Airport Road 19 will host the Country Boy Antique Tractor Tour. Beginning at 8 a.m., show entries also will be featured in the Summerfest Parade at 2 p.m.

Farmer’s Elevator will host a “Wash-Wag-Shake” Dog Wash at the elevator from 10 a.m. to noon. Proceeds from the event ($5 for big dogs, $3 for small) go toward area animal shelters.

The beer and wine tasting event at the beer tent also will feature live music from Morgan Crabb. Price for the event is $20 for a tasting card, which includes admission to the beer tent.

Also new this year is food at the beer tent. According to Lincoln, a mobile pizza oven will be providing slices to party goers throughout the evening Saturday night.

Though no carnival is slated for this year’s Summerfest, organizers say the event is going to have something for everyone. Village Manager James Freed said he expects Summerfest 2013 to be a truly fun, family event.

“Summerfest is a weekend jam packed full of events that caters to every member of the family,” Freed said. “Kids games, art, music, food and the hospitality tent make for a fun filled weekend for the community to come together. As always the fireworks display is going to be a not to miss event.”

More information and last minute scheduling updates are available at the Lakeview Jaycees Facebook page.